Cecilia Englishby

“Sigrid’s Bane” by Cecilia Englishby

1092“Most people don’t know this, but Werewolf bloodlines are incredibly important.” Sigrid, only 14 years old, said confidently. “We can mate with humans, but it's better to bite them and have them undergo their first transformation before having children.” The man sitting opposite her appeared to be bored with life in general, but for some reason, he seemed interested in her company. He was one of 3 guests of honor to attend her brother Thorstein’s wedding. He was incredibly pale, beautiful, and didn’t look a day over 25, but Sigrid knew t...

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“The Banshee” by Cecilia Englishby

1545“What I want is to sing!” Saoirse replied, looking right at the handsome stranger that had asked. His eyes... they seemed far too old within such a young face, and she couldn’t help but stare deeply into those enigmatic wells that barred the doors of his soul from her. She was confident she didn’t fancy him, she was happily engaged. But he compelled her attention nonetheless.“I don’t doubt you will.” He replied. His tone seemed bored, but he leaned towards her as though interested. “Have you been on stage yet?” he nodded at the band brin...

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“The Emerald Minstrel – An Origin Story” by Cecilia Englishby

Evo opened his eyes, tears flowing freely as he clutched his chest. He had just relived the worst day of his life. He hadn’t thought of it in centuries, but it felt like it had just happened.“Thank you for trusting me.” The Minstrel said. His ethereal tones echoed genuine sympathy within Evo’s mind, the music he played mirrored it perfectly.“I don’t know what trust had to do with it.” Evo replied, choking up a bit. “Once I closed my eyes, it was like being on a boat in the middle of a fast-flowing river. I was but a passenger to your magic.”...

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“Evo – Part 1” by Cecilia Englishby

“Will you tell me your story?” The Minstrel asked within his mind, his soft music playing in gentle tones that felt like home to Evo. It was jarring to have the voice of another sound within one’s head; but it was the only way the Minstrel could speak at all, having no tongue or vocal cords of his own. “My friend.” Evo began, unsure how to continue. “I am so… very old. I don’t think we have the time.” “Start at the beginning.”  The Minstrel replied. Evo was sure he saw a small smile crease the Minstrel’s eyes. “Tell me how you became a...

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“The Basilisk ” by Cecilia Englishby

His mother had considered him destined for greatness since the moment she first laid eyes on him. A babe worthy of saving others; so virtuously pure she named him Pius.By the age of 10, their Reverend had agreed to allow him to lead one sermon a month.His mother beamed proudly from the front row each time.“You are going to save so many souls my boy.” She’d say after.To which he always replied. “No Mother, I am going to save the world!”Upon graduating from tertiary education with the honors she knew he would get, she couldn’t help but brag ab...

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“Teaching Tanri’Sal” by Cecilia Englishby

Submitted to Contest #222

Hail sat with his fellow fifth years between the winter-chilled stone walls of Beshquey Hall, all of them around fifteen years of age. He adjusted his position and accidentally jostled his friend’s elbow with his own.“Watch it!” Colt protested.“Please fool, I barely grazed you through all these layers.” Hail jested.The first of the Magiceres had arrived to take their seats on the stage and the hall’s rumble started to dull.“Ha! The nerve you have to call me a fool when you are the one who chose Windleby as your mentor!”“Not this again.” Hail...

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“We Need to Haunt” by Cecilia Englishby

Submitted to Contest #221

“Good evening and welcome to The Late Hour! It is 10PM and a Friday night, and you all know what that means!” The audience cheered loudly. “Settle in and grab your popcorn folks. I am your host, Daniel Taylor - but please call me DT - and we are Live!”The presenter, DT was nothing Lacey hadn’t seen a thousand times before; slick black hair framing a tanned face with a five-o-clock shadow, silvering temples and an immaculately tailored outfit made of finest materials.So flashy! Lacey didn’t like flash, but she needed him. He was popular, infl...

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“Kitsune” by Cecilia Englishby

Submitted to Contest #220

On any other day, Colin would have left home on time; but on any other day he wouldn’t have had friends over the night before to celebrate, nor would he have drunk so much. He’d gotten lucky on a cheap scratch-card and was officially $5,000.00 richer.Even so, with a bit of a rush he’d have left with good time, but for some reason he had also misplaced his keys… something Colin never did.I bet it was Gabe!He found them in his pillowcase fifteen minutes later; he roared in triumph as he held them aloft dramatically.With that done, he quickly c...

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“L’appel du Noir” by Cecilia Englishby

Submitted to Contest #218

It all happened in less than a minute.To her left, a cork stopper popped from a bottle…No, it more than popped!For a split second there, it also whistled! It was no ordinary whistle either, but a rounded pan-flute-esque sort of whistle; a memory filled her mind’s eye, one of her blowing into a glass soda-bottle to produce similar childish music of her own, growing ever deeper as the bottle gradually held less soda.Over the years, Amber had heard her fair share of cork-stoppers being removed; she knew the sound well, loved it even… but had to...

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“Draconic Taxonomy” by Cecilia Englishby

Submitted to Contest #217

It was a warm and sunny day within the city of Douphé’Zentol. Lush mountains rolled high in the south and west; miles of tall rock-face that held magicians, sages, mysteries and most important of all, Dragons!Their peaks glittered with verdant shades of green on blackish-browns, or brownish-blacks. It was unclear as far as the city was concerned, as was evident with the need for monthly meetings, with full blown arguments resulting every time. Aldrich always silently thanked his ancestors that his people had not needed to fight for anything ...

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“Heroism, Hope and Litigation” by Cecilia Englishby

Submitted to Contest #212

Within the gloomily dated confines of her childhood home, Jessica sat cross-legged on the floor, sorting the final pieces of paperwork left over in her father’s study. Mostly it was just notes on his favorite subjects and hobbies, whatever they were at the time. It all seemed rather useless to her personally, but she still diligently created folders for each subject and filed them alphabetically into waiting boxes for storage. Edward Jonas Maylin had passed away rather suddenly four months earlier. The funeral was held three days later. He...

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“What an Odd Little Murder” by Cecilia Englishby

Submitted to Contest #211

Ben’Ji sat peacefully in his home, listening to gentle but heavy raindrops pattering against roof tiles and steamed up windows. He was in his library; it was small, only holding a few hundred books. But they were good books, and they were his.The library held a roaring fire, providing enough heat for Ben’Ji and all of his animals. On his right stood a handy cabinet containing his daily provisions; some bread, cheese, apples, dried meats and a couple of small cakes. Above that a steamy cup of coffee waited next to a large pot of more of ...

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“The Great Reset” by Cecilia Englishby

Submitted to Contest #210

Calli sat quietly, at least for the moment, within the four black-foamed walls of her recording studio. She was annotating some tabs with her right hand whilst she carefully held her precious Taylor guitar by the neck with the left, its body cradling in her lap.The visitors had arrived five days earlier, and she had found herself flushed with inspiration ever since. She and Snaggletooth, her little black Burmese feline companion, had spent the most of their time within the soundproof walls since Their arrival. He yawned at her, licking his l...

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“Hubris and Red Portals” by Cecilia Englishby

Submitted to Contest #209

Two days hiking into the Cro Mountains, Harriette found herself standing before her very own little cave of seclusion. She’d crossed streams, traversed steep terrain and waded through forests and undergrowth, scraping her hands and face bloody in the attempt.As always, it had all been worth it; especially as she was sure she was the only one who knew about the place; not even the animals had disturbed her protective-wards as she took them down one at a time.Once inside, Harriette didn’t waste time. She knelt, setting down her supplies; withi...

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“The Talisman” by Cecilia Englishby

Submitted to Contest #208

The sun shone with wholesome radiance over the Royal Gardens. In the east, a glade of Weeping Willows hugging a lake greeted the light with shimmering shades of dark and emerald green. Towards the north, flower beds blossomed vibrantly with purple Violas, butter-yellow Sunflowers, scarlet Bee Balms, purple Lavender and a grand assortment of Roses. Facing west, apples glimmered with sparkling flashes of ruby as dewdrops clung stubbornly to their crimson skin. Finally, to the South; a wild garden of Birch and Ash shaded all manner of creatur...

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